Behavioral Accounting: The Research and Practical Issues

The relatively new field of behavioural accounting relies on the application of behavioural concepts from the social sciences for an understanding of the forces that underlie the accounting environment. Belkaoui presents the first comprehensive survey of behavioural accounting theories and findings, organizing them into a systematic framework for the further study of behavioural accounting issues and questions. The result is a new understanding of the behavioural environment of accounting and a guide to solving practical behavioural problems that result from the preparation and use of accounting information. As Belkaoui demonstrates, the quality of accounting information is often adversely affected by human perceptions, attitudes, predispositions and other behavioural characteristics. Belkaoui fully explores the behavioural underpinnings of the problem by examining the behavioural dimensions of a wide range of accounting issues and practices including - contingency approaches to the design of accounting systems; functional and data fixation; the practice of slack; accounting and language; goal setting, participative budgeting and performance; the human resource considerations in public accounting firms; and finally, cultural determinism in accounting. By offering both a realistic appraisal of the theories behind behavioural accounting and a cogent statement of the questions still left unanswered, Belkaoui makes a major contribution to the ongoing inquiry into the influence of behavioural factors on accounting practice.